Fable 2: Final Thoughts

So, I finished Fable 2 a few days ago. Is it a better game than the original? Hmmmm...probably.

I'm not going to waste time talking about the original Fable. You've either played it and loved it, or you haven't played it and don't plan to. Fable 2 isn't necessarily a sequel, so there's no real story to catch up on. It takes place like 300 years after the first one, so the world of Albion is a familiar, but different place. You play an anonymous "Hero" who must change the world somehow. Along the way you meet colorful characters, see exotic locations, fight strange and terrifying monsters, and become more powerful, rich, and famous than you ever dreamed.

While it's true that how you play the game dictates how different actions will play out, it is still a fairly linear story. And it's a familiar story as well, but that's ok, because you'll have so much fun playing through it that you won't care.

Like the first Fable, however, Fable 2 does have some problems. Minor ones, sure, and not deal breakers, but problems nonetheless.
The camera is very loose. There is no zoom, and it tends to get caught behind set pieces.
The controls, especially for movement, are very loose as well, and there were a couple times when I just couldn't get to where I needed to go, and had to restart the game. Once, I got trapped in a barrel.
The targeting system is frustrating when used, so I didn't use it.
But...it does have it's triumphs. The quest system has been streamlined, as has everything else that used a card in the first game. Gaining renown, now much more of a necessity, is easier as well. I believe where Fable 2 really shines, however, is in the addition of your best friend: the dog. Just as nameless as you are, and just as important, your dog is your constant companion. He helps you fight, finds treasure for you, and never leaves your side even if you treat him like shit. I was worried that my dog would get on my nerves, but he never did. They really did well by including him.

To sum it up...Fable 2 is a great game. Yeah, better than the original Fable. A triumph, and well worth your play time.